The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sambisa forest

  • Army kills 40 Boko Haram, arrest 18

    Army kills 40 Boko Haram, arrest 18

    • Also rescues 230 in sambisa forest 

     The Nigerian Army said it has made significant effort in the push towards routing out the ruminants of Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa forest and other location in the theater of operation.

     

    Briefing journalists at the monthly press briefing, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, on Wednesday at the Command Control Center, Maiduguri disclosed that his troops killed a total of 40 Boko Haram insurgents, arrested 18 and rescued about 230 victims during combat in Sambisa forest in the last one month.

    Maj. Gen Attahiru also added that total of ten insurgents surrendered within the period under review, stressing that the Theatre had recorded many successes against the insurgents after  the newly-launched  Operation DEEP PUNCH 2 and Operation RUWAN WUTA in Sambisa forest.

    According to him, two operations focused on coordinated aerial bombardments by the air and artillery platforms supported by land operations to decimate the insurgents.

    He also explained that the Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) inaugurated in August has drastically gained momentum and had continued to ensure that the Main Supply Routes of the insurgents (MSRs) were firmly secured.


    Gen Attahiru noted that     the operations had enhanced safety of commuters as well as ensured the gradual return of economic activities in some affected rural communities.

    His words: “Some of the operations led to the killing of two  key Boko Haram commanders, Abdu Kawuri and Abubakar Benishek, in a successful operation on Sept. 1  at Alafa in Bama Local Government Area.

    “Additionally, a prominent Commander, Ba’abba Ibrahim, and two other commanders died after sustaining injuries during their last encounter with our Special Forces in an ambush at Magumeri council.

    “In another encounter, our troops had repelled an attack on IDPs camp at Banki. The attack followed discreet insurgents’ infiltration into the area through the Nigeria – Cameroun border.

    “The fire fight between our troops and the insurgents resulted in the death of two insurgents and caused others to flee. Unfortunately, eleven IDPs were killed and two others were wounded in the process.

    “Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched in a concerted effort to locate the missing IDPs while the wounded civilians were evacuated for medical treatment,” he said.

    Speaking on the number of arrests, The Theatre Commander said that the troops also arrested 18 Boko Haram terrorists and their collaborators after they infiltrated into IDPs camp and that the suspects were currently undergoing investigation.

    He disclosed that six members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed in a bomb attack by Boko Haram on IDPs camp in Ngala.

    Attahiru further said that during the period under review, troops foiled several suicide and other forms of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks, “thereby causing the adversary to drown in its own blood”.

    “I want to reassure you that Boko Haram will finally be brought to its knees in no distant time as troops had conducted precursor operations and other offensives geared toward their final defeat.

    On ambush operations, The Theatre Commander said troops had denied the insurgents any freedom of action through its ambushes along Road Ngurosoye – Bama near Borno State College of Basic Studies (BOCOBS) and Mararaba Kirawa.

    “Also, on Sept. 12, 17 own troops successfully sprung an ambush against insurgents using the Firgi crossing point in Bama Local Government Area to access the Sambisa forest.

    “The ambush was extended to Mallam Gonare where 2 Boko Haram terrorists were killed.  Troops also recovered unexploded ordnance and 7.62 mm ammunition during the operation.

    “In the same vein, on Sept. 12, 17, troops ambushed fleeing elements along Road Ngoshe – Bokko Kugile and killed one of the insurgents.

    “Troops also recovered 3 bicycles, 2 wrist watches, 2 SIM cards and the sum of N1, 140.

    “Similarly, on Sep.14 17, our troops in conjunction with vigilantes sprung ambush against insurgents around Lokodisa in Gwoza Local Government Area.

    “One terrorist was killed while others fled with gunshot wounds. Troops also recovered one AK 47 rifle, 117 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 14 rounds of 21mm, 7 bicycles, one trolley, a machete and 2 jerry cans.”

  • Troops kill two insurgents in Sambisa Forest

    Troops of the Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs), a component of Operation Lafiya Dole, have killed two Boko Haram insurgents attempting to enter Sambisa forest in Borno State.

    A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Kingsley Samuel, said the insurgents were killed in an ambush.

    It said: “The Army Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) of Operation Lafiya Dole’s resolve to rout remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) has yielded another result, with troops successfully ambushing unsuspecting terrorists, about 10.45 pm, on Friday, October 6, while they attempted to cross into Sambisa Forest, from Mayanti village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “The troops sprung the ambush on the terrorists and neutralised two of them, while others escaped with injuries.

    “Two bags of maize were recovered from the site. The MSTs, particularly in Bama, since its inauguration by Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Buratai, has been a potent deadly mobile lethal force engaging and neutralising the BHTs in several staging areas.”

  • NAF concludes clearance operations in Sambisa

    NAF concludes clearance operations in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Thursday it has concluded its operation code-named “Operation Ruwa Wuta” at the Sambisa forest and other suspected locations and hideouts of the Boko Haram sect.

    A statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said “to successfully execute the Operation, the NAF conducted a total of 129 missions in 180 sorties within a total of over 208 flying hours.”

    Adesanya also said the operations included series of medical outreach programmes by NAF for scores of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has just concluded Operation RUWAN WUTA, which was essentially an intensive day and night aerial bombardment of locations where Boko Haram terrorists were attempting to re-colonize in Northeastern Nigeria.

    “An integral part of the Operation, which lasted from 7 – 16 September 2017, was a medical outreach programme that was targeted at providing free medical treatment to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps near Maiduguri, the Sambisa general area and Rann, in particular.

    “The NAF also conducted free surgeries for IDPs that needed surgical interventions, airlifting them to the NAF Medical Centre in Maiduguri where necessary.

    “In all, 700 IDPs in Rann alone received free medical treatment while free surgical interventions were carried out on 146 IDPs out of a total of 1,032 that were screened in all the beneficiary IDP camps. As at 20 September 2017, the free surgical interventions included 90 eye surgeries and 56 general surgeries while 60 other IDPs received free medicated eyeglasses from the NAF.

    “The surgical interventions on the IDPs are still ongoing and would come to an end on 21 September 2017.

    “On 16 September 2017, the concluding day of Operation RUWAN WUTA, the NAF successfully attacked some structures in Kote (near Bama), where BHTs were suspected to be holding a meeting. Kote was a BHT infested location, hosting significant BHT activities, as revealed by NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.

    “Air interdiction was conducted on the BHT structures in Kote with NAF Alpha Jet and the F-7Ni aircraft, which took turns to attack the enemy location with bombs. Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) revealed that the targeted structures were destroyed.

    “It is recalled that the objective of Operation RUWAN WUTA was to ‘rain significant fire’ on BHT hideouts thereby further degrading the ability of the terrorists to freely operate and consequently giving advantage to friendly surface forces to gain momentum.

    “Accordingly, enemy locations, which were successfully attacked, with significant damage on the BHTs, include Parisu, Njimia, Zanari, Garin Maloma, Yale Market, Mungusum, Arra and Kote. A comprehensive BDA over the attacked locations after the 10-day operation revealed the complete absence of BHT activities.

    “To successfully execute the Operation, the NAF conducted a total of 129 missions in 180 sorties within a total of over 208 flying hours.”

  • Boko Haram: Escapee recounts orderal in Sambisa forest

    Boko Haram: Escapee recounts orderal in Sambisa forest

    A 25-YEAR-OLD housewife and mother of five, Aisha Bukar yesterday recounted her ordeal in the hands of Boko-Haram insurgents, saying she, her husband, mother-in-law and children, fed on ‘weeds’ to survive.

    Mrs. Bukar, one of the captives of the insurgents, escaped from their enclave after a military war plane bombed their hideout in Sambisa Forest recently.

    She told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she escaped from the camp with her husband, mother in-law and the five children.

    She said members of her family were incarcerated for about three years by the insurgents in the Sambisa Forest.

    She recalled that the insurgents abducted them while working in a farm at Talala, a village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno.

    Mrs. Bukar added that they had denied them food and drugs, following her husband’s refusal to fight for their group.

    She said: “We were working in the farm when the insurgents abducted me, my husband, children and mother in-law. They took us deep into Sambisa Forest, where we stayed for about three years.

    “They asked my husband to take up arms and fight for them, a request he declined; they became infuriated and labeled him as stubborn; to break his will, they denied us food and drugs.

    “We barely survived on leaves and weeds; we also relied on herbs when sick; they distributed food only to their fighters and those who submit to their demands.”

    Mrs. Bukar lamented that the insurgents meted out inhuman treatments and abuses on women and children under their captivity.

    The escapee revealed that the insurgents compelled captives, including women and children, to be attending preaching and lecture sessions.

    She said: “My husband was flogged on many occasions over his persistent absenteeism at the lecture sessions. His back is covered with ugly scars of injuries sustained from merciless beating by the insurgents.”

  • NAF Jets destroy Boko Haram logistics base in Sambisa

    NAF Jets destroy Boko Haram logistics base in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation Lafiya Dole said it has destroyed operational base of the Boko Haram insurgent group in the Sambisa forest.

    According to the Director of Public Relation and Information of the Nigerian Air Force,  Air Commodore, Olatokunbo Adesanya, an “Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission in the Sambisa general area was carried out as part of on-going efforts to clear the area of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists group.”

    The NAF Spokesman said  “On 16 May 2017, the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission in the Sambisa general area, as part of ongoing efforts to clear the area of remnants of the Boko Haram Terrorists group.

    “During the ISR mission, a black vehicle and some Boko Haram Terrorists were seen on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest. A confirmatory ISR mission on 17 May 2017 revealed that the Boko Haram Terrorists are attempting to build a logistics base in the location.

    “Accordingly, Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft were immediately called in to carry out strikes on the location. Subsequent battle damage assessment revealed that some of the structures and vehicles in the location were engulfed in an inferno and destroyed.

    “In addition, several Boko Haram Terrorists within the structures under the tree were possibly killed by the strikes. It will be recalled that the Nigerian Air Force, in a recent attack, frustrated attempts by the Boko Haram Terrorists to regroup in the Sambisa general area”.

  • Never again will terrorists seize any part of Nigeria – Buhari

    Never again will terrorists seize any part of Nigeria – Buhari

    Never again will terrorists take over and occupy any part of Nigeria’s territory, President Muhammadu Buhari vowed in Sambisa Forest on Monday.

    The President made the vow when he declared the 2017 Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship (NASAC), opened.

    Represented by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, Buhari noted that holding the championship in the forest was an affirmation that government was “resolved to stamp out all activities and operations of the Boko Haram insurgents from our territory.”

    Buhari said: “This championship is a showcase of the clear effect and degradation of the Boko Haram terrorist group with the destruction of Camp Zairo in the heart of the famous Sambisa forest.

    “I can say categorically that never again will Boko Haram occupy any of our land.

    “I want use this opportunity to congratulate the Nigerian Army for this achievement and reiterate at this point by noting that it is a case of professional training that brought the Nigerian Army to this length.”

    Buhari restated that through the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative (PCNI), government would reconstruct facilities and structures destroyed by the terrorists so that the people of the region could enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the championship was held at the forest to consolidate on the gains achieved by troops in the North East so far.

    “This championship is therefore held here at the heart of the Sambisa forest as part of Nigerian Army’s plans to effectively dominate all hostile territories in the North East”, Buratai said.

    NASAC was held seven years ago at Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in Kaduna state.

    According to Buratai, the championship could not be held since then due to numerous operational engagements by the army.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government has named the newly established Nigerian Army shooting range at the Sambisa forest after the late Lt.-Col. Abu Ali.

    Ali, who was the commander of an army formation at Mallam Fatori in Borno east, died in a battle on Nov. 4, 2016 when Boko Haram terrorists attempted to invade and take the town.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the army routed the terrorists and took over Sambisa on Dec. 23, 2016 at about 1.35pm after it overran Camp Zairo, their last strong hold in the forest. (NAN)

  • No decision to train regular recruits in Sambisa forest – Army

    No decision to train regular recruits in Sambisa forest – Army

    The Nigerian Army has refuted report that it will be training the 76 Regular Recruits Intake (76RRI) in the Sambisa forest.
    The Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman in a statement yesterday urged the public to disregard message on the social media purportedly emanating from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai to that effect.
    Usman described the message as “mischievous”, saying “this is not true”.
    “Members of the public are therefore requested to disregard it in its entirety.
    “They should also be wary of fraudsters that request for gratification from interested candidates or their families. Recruitment into the Nigerian Army is free.”
    Meanwhile, Usman said that more armed bandits had surrendered their arms in Zamfara on Friday.
    He said that the following arms and ammunition were surrendered – three AK-47 rifles, two G3 rifles, one small machine gun, three pump action guns, one teargas launcher, three teargas canisters and 690 locally made Dane guns.
    Others recovered are 192 locally made pistols, eight locally made pump action guns, 17 Locally made revolvers, 60 locally made multi-barrel pistols and 13 locally made double-barrel rifles

  • ‘My hand, leg chopped-off because I wanted to surrender to the army’

    ‘My hand, leg chopped-off because I wanted to surrender to the army’

    Muhammad Abubakar, a 31 year-old Boko Haram insurgent on Thursday said his hand and leg were chopped off because he was planing to surrender and quit the battle in Sambisa forest.
    Abubakar disclosed this to newsmen in Maiduguri during briefing organised by Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, to update journalists on ‘Operation Rescue Finale’.
     Abubakar said he was punished because his decision to renounce his membership of the group and embrace peace.
    “I had told a friend, Hassan Dan-Guduma, that I was going to surrender as the movement had no meaning to me anymore.
    “Hassan Dan-Guduma initially bought my idea but later betrayed me. Shortly after our discussion, he went and came back with three others whom I am sure he must have  told them about our  plan to surrender.
    “They said I was planing to exposed them to the Nigerian Government, so they did all this to me.
    ” After they chopped off my right hand and left leg, they threw me into a culvert where I was left struggling, until soldiers came and rescued me.
    ” All I can say is that all we had been told by Boko Haram leaders,were lies and misleading. I  never joined them to kill anyone,” he said.
    Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, The Theatre Commander, said Abubakar was still undergoing interrogation.
    “You can see what they did to one of their own because he decided to quit,” said Irabor.(NAN)
  • Troops arrest 3,332 Boko Haram suspects, 26 foreigners

    Troops arrest 3,332 Boko Haram suspects, 26 foreigners

    …Admits mistake on Rann attack, says 112 died

    A total of 3,332 suspected Boko terrorists have been arrested by troops of operation Lafiya Dole between January to February 1, 2017 during a mop up operation following the dislodgement of the insurgents from Sambisa forest.

    The army has also informed that the January 16 airstrike on Rann, Kala/Balge Local Government of Borno State was a mistake, which has been deeply regretted by the military.

    The Theater Commander of Operation LAFIYA DOLE Major General Lucky Irabor  during the weekly live Media briefing in Maiduguri on Thursday at  Theatre Command headquarters equally conformed that a total of 122 people lost their lives in the unfortunate airstrike Out of the over 300 suspects arrested, Major. General Irabor informed that 26 were foreigners comprising of 17 Chadians, while the remaining 9 are from the republic of Niger, adding that five terrorists surrendered to the troops.

    He disclosed that the troops during the operation made several recoveries from the insurgents including,  their  logistics, a silka gun vehicles,  arms,  weapons,  ammunition,  4 military trucks,  3 military vehicles,  food items,  N872,000 cash,  drugs,  clothes and others from the Boko Haram Terrorists and their hideouts.

    Major. Gen. Irabor, announced that a syndicates of nine different suspects of  Boko Haram suppliers and agents were also arrested while 8 trucks carrying food items,  grains and fertilizer for the Boko Haram Terrorists were intercepted and the syndicates are undergoing interrogation.

    He added that  7 rustler were also intercepted with 34 cows and are undergoing interrogation while 8 women were intercepted by the troops from Niger Republic going to Kano in Nigeria and are under investigation by the military, stressing that they would be handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Services for further necessary action.

    Speaking on the casualty on the side of the insurgents, The Theater Commander mentioned 26 Boko Haram Terrorists were killed in various operations.

    He regretted that five soldiers were killed, with another five wounded, just as  3 civilians, including  a Civilian JTF.

    He said troops on clearance mission at Gashigar axis discovered 4 graves of Boko Haram Terrorists with 36 grenades and 13rounds of ammunition concealed into the graves.

    The Theater Commander praised the efforts of Borno state and recommended the support and understanding of the COAS and President Muhammadu Buhari as well as other service Chiefs and security agents in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.

    He equally thanked the donors agencies and development partners during the unfortunate Rann incidents.

    He condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the attack, while praying for the eternal rest of the dead.

    He also assured that the military is doing their best to checkmate the recent attacks on convoys along Maiduguri – Biu road and other areas within and outside the theatre.

  • U.S security chief hails Nigerian military for reclaiming Sambisa forest

    The United States Director of Defence Intelligence Agency, Lt.-Gen. Vincent Steward, has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for defeating Boko Haram and chasing the terrorists out of their once safe haven in the Sambisa forest.

    A statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, on Monday said Stewart gave the commendation when he visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

    The U.S military official said he was in Nigeria to meet with the top echelon of the country armed forces and collaborate with them in the areas of security.

    Stewart also pledged to support the Nigerian military to stop the Boko Haram terrorists from operating in the country’s territory and deny them future freedom of operation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olonisakin in his remarks commended the cordial working relationship between the U.S and Nigeria, especially in military cooperation.